Asceticism and Exegesis in Early Christianity

Asceticism and Exegesis in Early ChristianityThis volume deals with the complex relationship between asceticism and Scripture.From the beginning many of the early Christian communities led an ascetic lifestyle, although a good number of New Testament texts do not seem suitable for justifying radical ascetic and encratite practice. The question thus arises how the different forms of asceticism could be justified on the basis of those scriptures. The articles of the volume focus on the interpretation and application of New Testament texts in various ascetic milieus and in the works of several early Christian authors and on thereception history of New Testament texts either supporting or resisting an ascetic relecture.